A Nation Once Known for Kindness Now Fears Its Street Dogs - What Changed?

In recent months, media outlets in Turkey have been awash with alarming headlines: “packs of stray dogs appearing overnight,” “citizens afraid for their lives,” “streets unsafe.”

But pause for a moment. Where are these dogs suddenly coming from? Who put them there? Did they naturally disperse from elsewhere, or is something more deliberate happening?

For centuries, Turkey has been a global example of coexistence with non-human animals. Tourists marvel at the way cats and dogs are fed, sheltered, and respected by communities. A nation admired for compassion and tolerance is now a place where fear of street dogs defines daily life. What changed?

Manufactured Panic or Genuine Problem?

The sudden appearance of dogs in certain locations raises more questions than answers. If populations truly shifted, where is the data? Where are the scientific studies that should be informing policy and public discourse? If municipalities are moving dogs, why is this not transparently discussed? And if not, how is it possible for significant numbers of animals to appear without explanation?

Fear as a Political Tool

History shows us that fear, especially fear of animals can be a powerful tool. By framing street dogs as a sudden threat, a narrative is constructed that justifies extreme interventions. But it ignores the fact that these same dogs, for decades, lived peacefully alongside people.

What Did We Miss?

Perhaps the better question is: why is nobody asking questions? Why do we accept a story that turns centuries of shared life into a tale of menace overnight? Why is compassion, the very trait that once made Turkey unique being eroded by manufactured fear?

If dogs are being relocated, where are the records? If there is a sudden rise in incidents, where are the peer-reviewed studies? If this is a public safety issue, where is the transparency?

Until answers are demanded, the public is left with headlines designed to alarm, rather than facts designed to inform. And the true victims both people and dogs are left to suffer in a climate of confusion, fear, and distrust.